Finding the right service providers under the NDIS
One of the great things about the NDIS is it puts you in control of the supports you receive, by giving you the opportunity to choose your own providers.
But what if you find this level of control and personalisation somewhat daunting? Well, you’re definitely not alone. We’ve gathered four different ways you can find the best service providers for your situation to make the most out of your NDIS journey.
1. Support coordination
For many people, support coordination is one of the most helpful services available. Essentially, support coordination involves having a professional help you find and connect with local service providers that are the best fit for your needs.
The NDIS can include funding for support coordination in your plan, but it’s important to note that not everyone’s eligible for support coordination and that it is considered a ‘capacity building’ support, meaning that where possible you are encouraged to build the capacity to support yourself in the future. So if you need some assistance managing your supports and think you might be eligible, why not ask about support coordination in your next planning meeting?
If the NDIS doesn’t give you funding for support coordination, there are a number of other avenues you can go down to get assistance.
2. Ask your Local Area Coordinator
If you don’t have support coordination in your plan, your Local Area Coordinator (LAC) should be the first one to go to when you need support with finding service providers. Your LAC can supply you with a list of service providers in your area to get your plan started.
3. Making Use of Directories
The NDIS Portal contains lists of service providers, but it can be easy to lose your way as you navigate through thousands of providers.
Luckily, there are some websites that can help you sort through the sea of providers. Directories such as Clickability and MyCareSpace provide overviews of each service provider, including handy ratings and customer reviews to give you a sense of how others have found their experience. You can even review service providers yourselves – perfect for complimenting a service provider for delivering a great service…or sharing a bad experience as a warning to others.
4. Organising your team
Some people like to organise their own team of supports and hire support workers themselves, instead of through a service provider. There are several organisations that can help you facilitate this, such as:
On their website you can read profiles of support workers and choose the person you think would fit your needs best. While this is pretty hands-on, some people really enjoy having that additional level of choice and control. Again, it all depends on your situation and what you feel comfortable with.
Tips to remember
Here are some useful tips...
- Don’t disregard unregistered providers. There is a large network of passionate and skilled service providers out there who have chosen not to register with the NDIS. Unfortunately, if your funding is managed by the NDIS, you’re unable to access them. However, if you have plan management or self-manage your funds, you can unlock this huge world of unregistered providers. All NDIS participants are eligible for plan management, so if you ask for it in your planning meeting it’ll be included in your NDIS plan.
- Set up a service agreement with each service provider. Set up service agreements with your service providers to confirm when and how the support will be provided, and what costs and fees you may need to pay. Make sure you’re happy with the agreements before you sign them. This protects both you and the service provider, should any disputes arise in future.
- Ask for advice. Finding the right supports can sometimes be hard, so speak up and ask for advice.